Last night was Beef Stroghanoff. Pretty economical, really!
For 2 people:
1/2" wide egg noodles
Veg oil for frying
-1/2# tender beef, like sirloin tip strips (a.k.a.steakhouse tips), cut into small pieces, maybe 1/2". Price Chopper had 'em on sale this week for $3.99/lb, so you know what's in my freezer!
-pinch salt
-1/4 tsp ground pepper
-1/4 tsp garlic powder
-1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
-1 Tbsp Worcestershire
1 med. onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/2# mushrooms, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp flour
12-16 oz beef broth
3-4 oz red wine (optional)
3 Tbsp sour cream
2 Tbsp flaked or chopped parsley (optional)
Have a pot of water for cooking about 1/2# wide egg noodles. Put the noodles in just before starting the beef. Watch them while making the beef and gravy portion, and drain when al dente. Return them to the pot to keep them warm.
Mix beef w/ salt, pepper, garlic powder, nutmeg and worcestershire sauce. Saute in a little veg oil over high heat until seared (don't overcook). Set beef aside in a bowl w/ any pan juices.
Same pan: In 3 tbsp veg oil, saute onion and mushrooms over medium-high heat until both have rich color but aren't burnt (season w/ a little salt & pepper). Sprinkle w/ 2 tbsp flour and stir for about 1 minute to cook the flour a little.
Add about 12 oz beef broth, stiring constantly to make a gravy. Have a bit extra on hand in case you need it to make a full bodied (thick) gravy. You could also add a little red wine w/ the broth if desired, for a richer flavor. Cook on medium heat for at least 2 minutes to be sure the thickness is correct.
Just before serving, return the meat to the gravy w/ about 3 tbsp sour cream, stir, and heat gently until bubbling. Serve over hot egg noodles.
Sorry, I didn't take a picture! :-(
Chuck